Mayor Bob Kiss, the second leftist successor to Mayor Bernie Sanders (1981-89), happily announced, "The City learned late yesterday afternoon that Moody's reconfirmed the city's bond status at AA3. The people of Burlington and the City Council should take pride in retaining the high rating."

That smiling face to da' Mayor's left is City Treasurer Jonathan Leopold. Mayoral assistant Joe Reinert is in the corner.

"This rating," said Kiss, "is a direct result of important steps taken in designing and approving the FY07 budget and reflects Burlington's economic strength and vitality."

The "important steps" include a new city sales tax and a 4 cent increase in the property tax approved by the City Council.

Next Monday the City of Burlington is planning to sell $8.5 million in bonds. The biggest chunk, $3.6 million, is going to give Burlington High School the "sewage-free" athletic field it has long deserved. About time, eh?

Young John’s papa is Big Ed Pagano, chief of staff for Vermont’s senior United States Senator - Patrick J. Leahy. Papa Ed played center on the UVM basketball team (1981-85).

Parents and infant are doing great.

Young John, by the way, has excellent political genes. He is the grandson of former State Senator Jan Backus of Winooski. Jan of Arc served five terms in the Vermont Senate in two separate tours - one from Windham County and one from Chitttenden County. Grandma Backus had her eye on Washington, too, running twice for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jeezum Jim Jeffords.

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About The Author

Bio:
Peter Freyne, 1949-2009, wrote the weekly political column "Inside Track," which originated in the Vanguard Press in the mid 1980s; he brought it to Seven Days in 1995. He retired it shortly before his death in January, 2009. We all miss him.